New Resort Agreement Supports Revelstoke Tourism
Revelstoke is the most recent community to sign an agreement under the B.C. Resort Municipality Initiative with the Province, allowing it to share a portion of provincial hotel room tax revenues to invest in local resort-oriented projects and support a greener, healthier environment, Community Services Minister Ida Chong announced.
To date, Whistler, Golden, Rossland, Harrison Hot Springs, Radium Hot Springs, Kimberley, Osoyoos and Valemount have reached similar agreements with the Province; four other municipalities are currently eligible to enter into agreements: Fernie, Invermere, Ucluelet and Tofino. The Resort Municipality Revenue Initiative is part of the Province's ongoing commitment to meeting the goal of doubling B.C. tourism by 2015.
"This latest agreement, the ninth to date with the Province, will give Revelstoke access to funding to further support several new local tourism projects," said Chong during a ceremony at the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) annual convention. "In this way, we are helping to create vibrant, sustainable resort-based communities across B.C., which in turn provide tourism, jobs and economic development opportunities for all British Columbians."
Under the agreement, it is estimated that Revelstoke and area will receive $2.5 million over five years. The funding is expected to result in a new conference centre, a tourism information centre and improved landscaping on the Trans-Canada Highway, enhancements to the city's museum, a marina/boat launch plan, public art projects, an outdoor performance space, multi-use trails including snowmobile trail development, and a bus to service the resort.
As a result of these investments, Revelstoke expects to see a significant increase in skier visits to Revelstoke Mountain Resort, a 20 per cent increase in annual hotel occupancy rates, a 10 per cent increase in local employment and a 20 per cent in increase retail sales over the five-year period.
"Revelstoke is seen as vibrant, healthy, clean, hospitable, resilient and forward-thinking city," said Revelstoke Mayor Mark McKee. "This funding will not only help us achieve our vision of a creating a sustainable community, it will also help us showcase Revelstoke's natural beauty to tourists from all parts of the globe giving us confidence that we can meet the Premier's goal of doubling tourism in this province."
Under the program, an eligible community receives a share of the provincial hotel room tax, an amount based on a formula that takes into account the level of tourist accommodation in the community, relative to other B.C. communities. To be eligible, municipalities must have tourism based economies or be incorporated as a "mountain resort municipality" under the Local Government Act.
Communities must be prepared to put in place an additional two per cent hotel room tax, prepare a resort development strategy that reflects the input of stakeholders and enter into a five-year results-based tourism development agreement that sets out what will be achieved through sharing of the hotel tax.
Published May 02, 2008
BC Ministry of Community Services
